Erustes’ Late Strike Lifts Deportivo Garcilaso Past Juan Pablo II College, Solidifying Seventh Place Amid Tight Primera División Race

On a brisk Monday night at Estadio Municipal de la Juventud, the air was thick with nervous anticipation as Juan Pablo II College hunted desperately for a lifeline to arrest their month-long slide down the Primera División table. Yet, when the final whistle pierced the October darkness, it was Deportivo Garcilaso, hungry for redemption after consecutive defeats, who found salvation—a solitary, emphatic goal by Pablo Erustes in the 84th minute that snapped the deadlock and sent Garcilaso back to Cusco with three vital points.

For much of the contest, both sides seemed paralyzed by their recent disappointments, their movements purposeful yet marked by caution. Juan Pablo II College, situated perilously at 16th in the standings with a mere 11 points from 11 outings, could ill afford another setback. Their last five matches offered little comfort: just one win, two draws, and two dispiriting defeats, the most recent a sobering 0-3 away loss to Universitario. Managerial anxieties were visible on the touchline, as every misplaced pass threatened to unravel fragile confidence.

Garcilaso, meanwhile, arrived in Moquegua after their own turbulent stretch—an embarrassing 0-4 reverse at Cusco and a frantic 2-4 defeat in their last match, where Erustes’ late double only served as consolation. The visitors, holding seventh in the table but with the congested mid-table breathing down their necks, approached this fixture with a blend of urgency and patience, knowing a single moment could define their October revival.

The opening exchanges were a tale of what might have been. Juan Pablo II, marshaled by captain Alvaro Rojas, exhibited brief flashes of enterprise. Emiliano Villar, scorer of the club’s last victory at Alianza Atletico, sought pockets of space behind Garcilaso’s back line, but found himself boxed in by a disciplined defensive unit led by veteran Juan Diego Lojas.

Garcilaso, for their part, controlled the midfield tempo, with Francisco Arancibia orchestrating attacks that, while methodical, lacked the penetrating edge to truly trouble Juan Pablo II goalkeeper. The home crowd, hopeful for a much-needed spark, grew restless as the match devolved into a tactical stalemate. Yellow cards punctuated proceedings, but the referee kept his red tucked away—discipline, at least, was maintained even as tension simmered.

Momentum pivoted irreversibly as the clock ticked toward its conclusion. With sixteen minutes remaining, Garcilaso intensified their forward press. Erustes, already the club’s talisman through a prolific September, found himself unmarked as a looping cross from the right evaded two defenders. With the composure of a seasoned striker, he cushioned the ball with his right foot, steadied, and lashed a low drive beyond the grasp of Juan Pablo II’s keeper. For the hosts, it was a dagger—one swing of the boot, and their hopes of snatching a draw vanished.

The final minutes were defined by frantic ambition from Juan Pablo II. Managerial changes injected fresh legs; Cristian Ramírez and Alvaro Rojas surged forward in search of an equalizer. Yet Garcilaso’s backline held firm, Lojas and Sandoval repelling headers and clearing under pressure. With every tackle and clearance, the clock became Juan Pablo II’s enemy—a portrait of a side condemned by their inability to convert possession into opportunity.

This result, while narrow, resonates deeply across the standings. For Garcilaso, the win elevates them to 18 points from 12 matches, consolidating their position in the upper third of the table and reigniting hopes of a surge toward continental qualification. Their resilience, forged in the shadow of consecutive defeats, may well define their campaign in the weeks to come.

Juan Pablo II College’s predicament intensifies. Now winless in four and with their second consecutive home shutout, their 16th-place standing underscores mounting pressure. The specter of relegation looms if their attack remains blunt and defensive lapses persist. Notably, their head-to-head history with Garcilaso offered little solace—this latest defeat continues a worrying trend of faltering in clutch moments against higher-ranked opposition.

Looking ahead, the stakes could scarcely be higher. Garcilaso’s next fixture is a chance to build on momentum, perhaps catalyzing a run that could disrupt the league’s status quo. For Juan Pablo II College, soul-searching is inevitable; tactical adjustments and renewed belief are not just desirable—they are required. With the Primera División season entering its decisive phase, tonight’s drama in Moquegua may well foreshadow the defining battles yet to unfold in Peru’s top flight.